PPG Camera

Captures finger heart pulse using phone camera

This mobile app is intended for use by health workers or academic researchers who are collecting data and analyzing the pulse waveform. More specifically, the pulse waveform measured here is the Blood Volume Pulse (BVP), which is measured by looking at the RGB light absorption of the blood in the capillaries in a person's finger. This measurement is also known by the general name of Photo-Plethysmography, or simply PPG. This particular implementation makes use of the illumination of the mobile phone LED light as well as the phone camera. For best results, the finger should be pressed very lightly on the phone camera. Alternatively, the hand can be placed on a rigid surface, palm facing up, and then the phone can be placed over the hand, with the camera lens resting on the middle finger of the hand.